Spirit Rover Launches

On June 10, 2003, NASA's Spirit rover was launched to Mars to study the history of climate and water in areas that could once have been favorable to life. A month later, Spirit's twin, Opportunity joined the mission as well. Navigate this list of words and discover what Spirit and Opportunity accomplished from 2003-2011 on the Red Planet. Read the full text by Asif A. Siddiqi here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rover
    a vehicle for exploring rough, extraterrestrial terrain
    The Spirit and Opportunity rovers together represented NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER), part of the Mars Exploration Program.
  2. exploration
    a careful systematic search
    The Spirit and Opportunity rovers together represented NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER), part of the Mars Exploration Program.
  3. mission
    a special assignment that is given to a person or group
    The Spirit and Opportunity rovers together represented NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER), part of the Mars Exploration Program.
  4. objective
    the goal intended to be attained
    Launched about a month apart in 2003, the twin rovers’ main scientific objective was to search for a range of rocks and soil types and then look for clues for past water activity on Mars.
  5. investigation
    the work of inquiring into something thoroughly
    The plan was for the rovers to move from place to place, to perform geological investigations and to take photographs with mast-mounted cameras (about 5 feet or 1.5 meters off the ground) providing 360-degree stereoscopic views of the terrain.
  6. heliocentric
    having the sun as or in the middle
    Spirit was launched first, at 17:58:47 UT June 10, 2003, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was sent to an intermediate parking orbit around Earth (about 100 × 2,960 miles or 163 × 4,762 kilometers) at a 28.5-degree inclination. Later, the PAM-D upper stage fired to send the spacecraft into a heliocentric orbit on a trajectory to intercept Mars.
  7. trajectory
    the path followed by an object moving through space
    Spirit was launched first, at 17:58:47 UT June 10, 2003, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was sent to an intermediate parking orbit around Earth (about 100 × 2,960 miles or 163 × 4,762 kilometers) at a 28.5-degree inclination.
    Later, the PAM-D upper stage fired to send the spacecraft into a heliocentric orbit on a trajectory to intercept Mars.
  8. deploy
    use or distribute systematically or strategically
    About an hour-and-a-half after landing and after the airbags deflated, the rover deployed its petal solar panels and began relaying information via 2001 Mars Odyssey.
  9. solar
    relating to the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
    About an hour-and-a-half after landing and after the airbags deflated, the rover deployed its petal solar panels and began relaying information via 2001 Mars Odyssey.
  10. transmit
    send from one person or place to another
    Spirit immediately started transmitting spectacular images back to Earth.
  11. spectacular
    sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect
    Spirit immediately started transmitting spectacular images back to Earth.
  12. abrasion
    the wearing down of rock particles by friction
    The next day, Spirit used its rock abrasion tool (RAT) to grind down the surface of a rock called Adirondack, a feat performed for the very first time on Mars.
  13. apex
    the highest point of something
    By 2005, Spirit began slowly making its way to the apex of Husband Hill, over terrain that was both rocky and sandy.
  14. panorama
    a picture representing a continuous scene
    On Sept. 29, 2005, the rover finally reached the summit of Husband Hill, a small flat plain from which Spirit was able to take 360-degree panoramas in true color of the Gusev Crater.
  15. malfunction
    a failure to work normally
    This malfunction proved to be beneficial to scientists since the inactive wheel scraped off the upper layer of Martian soil as the rover moved, exposing bright silica-rich dust that indicated contact between soil and water.
  16. autonomous
    existing as an independent entity
    These new programs allowed the rovers to autonomously decide on a number of different actions, such as whether to transmit a particular image back to Earth or whether to extend the remote arm.
  17. plateau
    a relatively flat raised area of land
    Unfortunately, on May 1, 2009, while driving south beside the western edge of a low plateau called Home Plate, Spirit became stuck in soft soil, its wheels unable to generate traction against the ground.
  18. traction
    the friction between a body and a surface on which it moves
    Unfortunately, on May 1, 2009, while driving south beside the western edge of a low plateau called Home Plate, Spirit became stuck in soft soil, its wheels unable to generate traction against the ground.
  19. excessive
    beyond normal limits
    The most probable cause of the loss of contact was the excessive cold that made its survival heaters ineffective.
  20. ineffective
    not producing an intended consequence
    The most probable cause of the loss of contact was the excessive cold that made its survival heaters ineffective.
  21. unearth
    recover through digging
    Major Accomplishments
    2007: Unearthed a patch of nearly pure silica, the main ingredient of window glass, while dragging its right front wheel. The silica patch, dubbed "Gertrude Weise," provided strong evidence that ancient Mars was much wetter than it is now because it was likely produced in an environment of hot springs or steam vents.
  22. evidence
    an indication that makes something apparent
    Major Accomplishments
    2007: Unearthed a patch of nearly pure silica, the main ingredient of window glass, while dragging its right front wheel. The silica patch, dubbed "Gertrude Weise," provided strong evidence that ancient Mars was much wetter than it is now because it was likely produced in an environment of hot springs or steam vents.
  23. ancient
    belonging to times long past
    Major Accomplishments
    2007: Unearthed a patch of nearly pure silica, the main ingredient of window glass, while dragging its right front wheel. The silica patch, dubbed "Gertrude Weise," provided strong evidence that ancient Mars was much wetter than it is now because it was likely produced in an environment of hot springs or steam vents.
  24. bedrock
    solid unweathered stone beneath surface deposits of soil
    2004: Discovered a surprising variety of bedrock in Columbia Hills, showing a complex geological history for the region. Some of the rocks showed evidence of alteration by water.
  25. alteration
    an event when something passes from one state to another
    2004: Discovered a surprising variety of bedrock in Columbia Hills, showing a complex geological history for the region. Some of the rocks showed evidence of alteration by water.
Created on Thu May 11 19:58:27 EDT 2023 (updated Wed May 17 09:51:55 EDT 2023)

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